How to Bleach Deer Skulls

By Faith Chandler ; Updated April 12, 2017

When you get back from hunting, show off your prize multipoint buck by hanging the cleaned skull and antlers. Give the skull a bleaching to brighten it before it goes on display. Since true bleach dissolves and weakens the bones, use a concentrated solution of hydrogen peroxide.

Prep your work area. Pour out about 1/2 cup of 40 percent hydrogen peroxide. Put on your rubber gloves. Set the deer skull into the plastic tub.

Apply the hydrogen peroxide to the deer skull. Start by filling the turkey baster with hydrogen peroxide. Squeeze small amounts of it onto the skull and inside the skull. Excess hydrogen peroxide will drain into the bottom of the tub. Make sure to cover all surfaces, except the antlers and the teeth. Use the paintbrush to apply hydrogen peroxide to crevices and more difficult-to-reach spots.

Cover the head in hydrogen peroxide-coated paper towels. Soak up some of the excess hydrogen peroxide from the bottom of the tub to reduce waste. Completely cover all parts of the skull you want bleached with the paper towels. This helps keep the skull from drying out and provides a surface for the dish soap.

Mix up the dish soap solution. Hydrogen peroxide works better in an alkaline environment, which the soap creates. Pour about 1/8 cup of dish soap out. Add about the same amount of the hydrogen peroxide to the dish soap. Add little water to dilute. Stir well.

Paint the dish soap solution onto the paper towels. Make sure that all of the paper towels are coated.

Allow the deer skull to sit overnight while the bleaching process works.

Remove the paper towels. Rinse off the skull with plenty of clean water. When you dry the skull, it is ready to display.

Things Needed

Plastic tub

Hydrogen peroxide, 40 percent solution

Paint brush, small

Turkey baster

Paper towels

Dish soap

Disposable cups

Rubber gloves

Tip

You can use less concentrated hydrogen peroxide -- even a 3- to 4-percent solution peroxide bottle will work. Just leave it on longer and make repeated applications until the skull is the desired color.

Warning

Always wear gloves when working with a highly concentrated hydrogen peroxide. It will burn the skin and eyes. Wash hands thoroughly after applying the hydrogen peroxide.